BRISTOL CITY 1 TOWN 1

12 March 2019

Steve Pearce

Deserved point for Blues after Webster opener

Town turned in another impressive display against another promotion contender to take a deserved point at Ashton Gate.

Former Blue, Adam Webster, put City in front on the half hour after Town had been the better side but Myles Kenlock was credited with the equaliser midway through the second-half, though the ball appeared to cannon in off Lloyd Kelly.

Gwion Edwards went close from distance and Town finished the stronger though Marlon Pack could have won it in added on time.

Town made five changes to the side that performed so well at West Brom on Saturday, with Josh Emmanuel coming in for his first appearance under Paul Lambert and Andre Dozzell handed a start in the middle of the park. The 18 included six homegrown players with Idris El Mizouni involved at senior level for the first time.

Kayden Jackson showed the threat his pace causes when he caught ‘keeper Stefan Marinovic napping as the ‘keeper delayed clearing the ball, City relieved to smother away the danger inside the first minute.

Jackson almost got in a minute later, Alan Judge opening up the defence with a pass, Webster doing enough to prevent the striker taking advantage as Town carried the game to the opposition.

Trevoh Chalobah volleyed wide from the edge of the box after Judge’s free-kick had been cleared into his path, Dozzell found Jackson with a slick ball into the box that was forced away, then Luke Chambers headed Judge’s corner just over as Blues continued to dominate.

Marinovic saved from Judge’s volley as Town swarmed all over the home goal and it took 20 minutes for City to carve out their first opening, Famara Diedhiou heading over from a corner, then Andreas Weimann firing into the sidenetting.

The Robins began to find their way into the game and Bart Bialkowski denied Weimann at the near post, Toto Nsiala in the right place to clear from Jamie Paterson as Bristol enjoyed a spell of pressure on the Town goal.

Chambers was at full stretch to clear from Kelly, who was providing an outlet down the Bristol left but it was from the other flank that the breakthrough came on the half hour, Niclas Eliasson’s whipped in cross glanced in by Webster.

Diedhiou had the crowd on their feet with a brilliant overhead kick that went just over, Town responding with Gwion Edwards testing Marinovic with a 25 yarder, while at the other end Diedhiou’s flicked header landed on the roof of the net to bring to an end an even first-half.

Marinovic showed good hands to keep hold of Chalobah’s low drive as Town started the second-half brightly, Edwards crowded out at the back post from Kenlock’s cross, Dozzell just too heavy with a slide rule pass to Judge.

Paterson headed wide from Eliasson’s cross as City looked for daylight but Blues continued to threaten and Edwards forced Marinovic into a save at full length before Town were level on 67 minutes, Kenlock doing superbly down the left and his fierce cross was deflected in by Kelly.

Callum O’Dowda and Kasey Palmer replaced Weimann and Paterson in a double change for the Robins, Blues following suit with former City skipper Cole Skuse given a warm ovation from the home fans, El Mizouni on for his debut with Jon Nolan and Judge making way.

Emmanuel couldn’t get on the end of Dozzell’s free-kick, Skuse doing superbly to block Palmer’s shot inside the box, Marinovic again struggling to clear under pressure from Jackson.

Teddy Bishop replaced Dozzell for the final exchanges and weaved his way into the box as Town searched for a winner but in added on time, Pack had the best chance but couldn’t force the ball in from six yards.